Groundhog Day is one of the most popular traditions in North America, as is celebrated in the US and Canada every February 2nd, aka, this Friday. The belief is that if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter, according to legend. But if he doesn’t, an early spring and above-average temperatures are on the way.
One of the most famous groundhogs is Punxsutawney Phil, from Pennsylvania, where the celebrations are big. This year, Phil is set to make his prediction around sunrise: The groundhog will emerge near the midway point of astronomical winter at 7:28 a.m. ET.
However, many cities and states also have their own official groundhogs to predict the weather. While many people like to observe this tradition, there are some questions about its accuracy, as well as its origins. So, here, check out some facts about Groundhog Day.
Five facts about Groundhog Day
What is the origin of the celebration?
The holiday comes from the Germans, especially the concept of “if it sees its shadow or not” as they marked Candlemas (Feb. 2) as the “Badger Day,” in which if they see their shadow, winter would last for another six weeks.
Groundhogs aren’t very accurate
The tradition might be fun but it’s not very reliable. According to studies by the National Climatic Data Center and the Canadian weather, Punxsutawney Phil has an accuracy of around 40%, from years 2013 to 2022.
The original tradition involved eating groundhogs
The initial Groundhog Day celebration happened in 1886, organized by the Groundhog Club, a group of elders. However, they not only regarded the groundhog as a weather forecaster but also as a delicacy, so they include its meat during the picnics.
Groundhog handler AJ Derume holds Punxsutawney Phil in 2022.
The movie boosted the popularity of the tradition
After the release of the 1993 film starring Bill Murray, in which he plays a cynical television weatherman covering the annual tradition who gets trapped in a time loop, attendance to the big event in Punxsutawney exploded, drawing crowds of up to 30,000 people.
Punxsutawney Phil has been replaced… several times
While Phil has been around since 1886, the groundhog’s average lifespan is 6-8 years. So, of course, he has been replaced all this time. The legend has it that America’s favorite groundhog, Phil, regularly drinks a magic elixir that extends his life by seven years. Other famous groundhogs are: General Beauregard Lee of Atlanta, Dunkirk Dave of Dunkirk, New York, and Jimmy of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
